ArtnLight

I'm a sucker for succulents. One look at these beauties made by Prashant Varma, a unique designer who not only has green fingers, but is also a brilliant chef, I knew the news HAD to be put out. Those of you who have not checked his design and food blog should absolutely head to 22VofLove and see his very distinct styles of menu illustration. Prashant says about his succulent project "I have always liked the concept of rawness. Something that I can relate to and feel comfortable with. Here I tried fusion of raw measuring tools and natural succulents to form a very contemporary piece. The visual idea is based on Indian measuring tools. The set consists of the jars that are used to measure milk & oil along with brass cylindrical weights embedded in the gravel.

Bad news: currently he only sells in Bangalore where he is based. Good news: they are very reasonably priced and those in Bangalore can actually bring these beauties home. If I were you and if had contacts in Bangalore, I would totally bribe hem to pick these for me & figure out a way to get them to me.

Out of my love for succulents, i bought quite a few of them last year here in Bombay in excitement. Those who follow me on Instagram, might remember meeting them. But here's the sad bit, because I didn't know how to care for them, they did not survive the high levels of moisture the monsoon in this city. I have not given up, I will bring them home again. Maybe if I had bought mine from Prashant they might have survived, maybe I will figure out a way to lay my hands on some of these beauties by 22VofLove.

Prashant's pointers on care for them:

1. Keep in well lit area (natural or artificial lighting) away from direct sunlight

2. Add 1 tbsp of water once a week

3. Talk to them :)

Factfile:

There are 3 size available

1 liter - 5.5" height & 4" dia ~priced at 1490

500 ml - 4.5" height & 3" dia ~ priced at 990

200 ml - 3.5" height & 2" diaT ~ priced at 490

You can write to Prashant if you are interested in buying these at 220voflove@gmail.com220voflove links: Blog, FB, Insta

The travel stars have been shining bright for a while. This time I was headed to Kerala, my home state. While travel to anywhere else felt like travel, travel to Kerala always felt like "going home" - literally, as against everything the word 'travel' generally entails. So after a lifetime of hearing how gorgeous Kerala is, how languid its backwaters are, and after a lifetime of not knowing what Kerala has to offer, here comes a trip that changed my lens, from the coastal art hub which is the very happening Kochi Biennale, which could be anyplace in the world really, to the backwaters close to Trivandrum, to the hill station Ponmudi to the treasures Kannur has to offer, this had been a trip that has redefined Kerala for me. I finally understand why 'Gods own Country' makes sense.

When you belong to a state, you are naturally exposed to the chinks, the eccentricities and in my case, Kerala was always a loaded word, it brought with it many subtextual inhibitions, restrictions, unspoken rules and always a consciousness of being a woman, and therefore a need to not attract undue attention, and when you add to this mix a family that has no love lost for travel and exploration, well, you get the drift.

But this time, keeping to my personal mantra for 2017, which is to be authentic - however one chooses to interpret it, for me it means listening to myself a lot more, speaking with honesty and openness, in all my interactions, or here on the blog, to err on the side of truth more than diplomacy, for me authenticity is also so much about just acceptance. Of who I am, where I come from, the people who are mine. These are givens. And I realised on this trip, that when you go in with your walls down, and with gentleness, one step at a time, and as a true traveller would, with openness, a whole different experience awaits you. For the 1st time, I travelled Kerala and she showed me one beauteous aspect of herself after another to me. Every conceivable shade of green told me in its own way, its ok, its time to forgive, time to go easy, it is time for beauty.

Ponmudi - is a hill station one goes to for a walk in the clouds and it is famed for the blue flower Neelakurinji that blooms across the hills once in 12 years and the hills turn into a carpet of blue till where your eyes can see.

It was windy windy windy. The combination of bright sunshine and cold winds is altogether happy making

So lets begin 2017 with a bang. Announcing the BIGGEST Sale on artnlight's online store till date - its a flat 40% off on all products on www.artnlight.in - why?
because this is the best way to create excitement
because I want more and more people to own an artnlight piece for the 1st time
because I wish more and more people have more and more artnlight in their homes
because what goes around come around
because I want to start saying it like it is
because 2016 could have been better than it was
because if I sell more I can make more and I can pay more

because I did not fire a single person from my team because the going got tough
because I want you to know that when you buy an artnlight piece, you help me continue creating beauty and live a life that holds meaning for me.
because I believe in living an honest entrepreneurs life,
because I believe in paying my suppliers when I promised them I would.
because for once I am not going to stop myself from being honest for the fear that I will sound like a whiner
because this is my choice and I wish to continue creating beautiful work
because I will not let the artist in me get mortified about "selling" and "looking repetitive" and "pushy"
because it will be so easy to not do the needful
because while markets, competition, modi and demonitisation might be realities, there is a larger reality which is my choice
because I would rather stick my neck out for my honest work
because I was scared to announce such a FAT sale before
because a lot of time, love and effort go into creating each piece of artnlight with our hands
because each piece is then bubble wrapped lovingly and kept in our workshop so it does not get dusty and worn
because a part of me cringes when I sell at what is much less than my products worth
because I want to challenge all those parts of me which are insecure and scared
because every part of me is mortified that I have written this post & soon will hit "publish"
because a 40% discount and this post is just WAY outside my comfort zone.
because this is the best way to create excitement
because I want more and more people to own an artnlight piece for the 1st time
because I wish more and more people have more and more artnlight in their homes
because what goes around come around
Happy 2017 my people.

May all of us have the courage to be more of who we are, say more of what we think

This year

May we allow ourselves to be, to say, to do, all that we have wanted to.

Its ok if crap is what comes of it, it is at-least done with :)

Back to the 40% discount on all artnlight products. Once you have chosen your products on www.artnlight.in and added them to your cart, do apply the Coupon Code HNY2017 before you proceed to checkout. Happy Shopping, Happy Artnlight & Happy 2017 :)

It was the beginning of 2016 and Artnlight got associated with Red Polka. Red Polka is a platform for creative entrepreneurs, they are story tellers and curators. What I really liked about Redpolka was one, the genuineness of the people and two, their real passion for their work, which reflected in the beautiful and sometimes quirky choice of venues and the interesting offline exhibitions and events they curated and put together, always making for an enriching experience. The team was always patient, and some of them have even become friends over the course of the year. That the founder Vishakha Singh is always present with an ever attentive eye the proceedings, always ready and available to solve any issue that might crop up, hand in hand with her team is not just commendable but also one of the important reasons why Red Polka as a company is growing steadily. And as in all exhibitions, the added bonus is always the time and opportunity we get to meet and connect with fellow entrepreneurs.
I cannot say bye to 2016 without thanking the entire team at Red Polka.

About Me

I'm an ex-advertising art director, who stumbled into the world of design blogging not knowing that it would change my life. I am now an independent design consultant with a growing decor accessories business.